The spot of Leon Balogun as first choice central defender for Nigeria is no longer guarantee unless he starts getting games at English Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion according to coach of the Nigerian team Gernot Rohr.
Balogun has found it hard to displace the first choice pairing of Shane Duffy and Lewis Dunk since his move on a free transfer from German side Mainz O5 in the summer.
The Nigerian has played just two games this season which according to Rohr isn’t good enough for a player who is already 30 years old as it will no doubt affect his fitness and physical shape.
Rohr hinted that unless he starts playing or switch clubs in January to where he can get game time , it will be hard for him to maintain his “Oyibo Wall” central defence pairing with William Troost-Ekong in the senior national team of Nigeria.
“On Leon Balogun, we will insist all the time on our player playing regularly because its the same for other players. We tell them sometimes that it’s better to play in smaller club than to go to a big club in the Premier League and you don’t play. It’s difficult, but we have discussed this in our conversation especially with Balogun.
“He’s 30 now which means that if he’s not playing, it will be more difficult for him to be fit. “We will speak with these players who have this problem. And when the January transfer window opens we will see”, the coach said in an interview made available to Owngoalnigeria.com.
